230 Bihlioyraphical Notices. 



combined more of the requisites for such a work than could probably 

 be found in any other living naturalist ; for in addition to a know- 

 ledge of his subject matured by long study and a familar acquaintance 

 with the algological forms of both hemispheres, he is his own artist, 

 even to the execution of his drawings on the stone. Besides this rare 

 advantage, Dr. Harvey has cultivated a popular style without any 

 compromise of scientific accuracy. Last, but not in our estimation 

 least, a healthy moral tone pervades all his writings. It is surely 

 fitting that descriptions of the wonders of external nature, interesting 

 to all, but pre-eminently attractive to the young, should be made to 

 serve a higher purpose than perfecting our knowledge of scientific 

 affinity, or gratifying a mere intellectual curiosity. *' The study of 

 organic nature," remarks Dr. Harvey, in some valuable observations 

 on the noble teaching to be derived from it, " ought to be one of 

 the purest sources of intellectual pleasure. It places before us struc- 

 tures the most exquisite in form and delicate in material ; the perfect 

 works of Him who is Himself the sum of all perfections : — and if our 

 minds are properly balanced, we shall not rest satisfied with a mere 

 knowledge and admiration of these wonderful and manifold works ; 

 but, reading in them the evidence of their relation to their Maker, we 

 shall be led on to investigate our own " (p. 41). 



The work is introduced by an Essay on the general structure, 

 uses, and mode of preserving Marine Algse ; as well as on the geo- 

 graphical distribution of the American species. The author is of 

 opinion that additional researches will indicate four regions of distri- 

 bution on the eastern and southern shores of the North American 

 States, viz. : — 



1. Coast north of Cape Cod, extending probably to Greenland. 

 Characterized by the great Laminarice. 



2. Long Island Sound, including New York Harbour and the 

 Sands of New Jersey. 



3. Cape Hatteras to Cape Florida. It is remarkable that no Fu- 

 coid alga has as yet been observed in this region. 



4. Florida Keys, and Shores of the Mexican Gulf. This region 

 has been very imperfectly explored, but seems strongly marked ; as 

 out of 130 species collected by Dr. Harvey at Key West in February 

 1850, scarcely one-eighth are found on the east coast. 



Notwithstanding the collections which have been already made, the 

 results of which will appear in the present work, a multitude of species 

 doubtless remain to be discovered by American botanists both on the 

 east and west coasts (especially the latter), and a greater stimulus to 

 investigation can hardly be afforded than the appearance of this * Nereis 

 Boreali-Americana.' Nearly one hundred species are described in the 

 part under review, completing the Melanospermese, with exquisite co- 

 loured illustrations of the most interesting, especially some curious new 

 FJctocarpece. We would take this opportunity of directing the special 

 attention of American botanists to the Laminarice, which, as Dr. 

 Harvey justly remarks, can only be properly studied on the spot and 

 by extended observations. Laminaria longipes, cornea, and other 

 forms described by Bory de St. Vincent, from Newfoundland, are, 



